This study assesses the potential for using mid-infrared (mid-IR) spec
troscopy of dried serum films as the basis for the simultaneous quanti
tation of eight serum analytes: total protein, albumin, triglycerides,
cholesterol, glucose, urea, creatinine and uric acid. Infrared transm
ission spectra were acquired for 300 serum samples, each analysed inde
pendently using accepted reference clinical chemical methods. Quantita
tion methods were based upon the infrared spectra and reference analys
es for 200 specimens, and the models validated using the remaining 100
samples. Standard errors in the IR-predicted analyte levels (S-y/x) w
ere 2.8 g/L (total protein), 2.2 g/L (albumin), 0.23 mmol/L (triglycer
ides), 0.28 mmol/L (cholesterol), 0.41 mmol/L (glucose) and 1.1 mmol/L
for urea, with correlation coefficients (IR vs reference analyses of
0.95 or better. The IR method emerged to be less suited for creatinine
(Sy/x = mu mol/L) and uric acid (Sy/x = 140 mu mol/L) due to the rela
tively low concentrations typical of these analytes.